“It’s brilliant to see the huge boost in well-being older people on the Channel 4 programme are experiencing. This is something very close to our hearts,” says Ben Allen, who this week became one of Care Home Professional’s 2017 annual Leaders In Care in the ‘Innovators in Care’ category.

“At our social enterprise Oomph! Wellness well-being involves empowering older people to live their life in full colour, so they can pursue new, as well as old, hobbies and passions, alongside improving physical and mental with adaptable fitness classes.

We are making huge strides in transforming well-being this year, with 60,000+ classes and outings for care home residents.”

The Channel 4 series has found, from a sample group of older people’s home residents, that:

1/3 exhibit some signs of depression
9 out of 10 find life unexciting
1/2 felt hopeless about the future

News reports in recent weeks have also shown the upsetting variability of standards within the UK care home sector.

“But, Oomph!’s research with care home residents found that close to 90% demonstrated a significant improvement in mood, sociability and mental stimulation through doing our classes and trips,” says Allen.

“With the right support, older people are rediscovering and pursuing passions such as motor racing, cocktail making or playing musical instruments, and are feeling fitter than ever with chairobics sessions and outings to art galleries.

“Even the oldest care home residents are making friends and more fully engaging in life, after previously rarely or never interacting with others at their home,” comments Allen.

In an age of increased focus on well-being and of opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to follow their true passions in life, Oomph! Is making sure older adults don’t get left behind.

Allen adds: “Our vision is a world in which older adults live life in full colour, and key to this is ensuring people get to do things they genuinely want to do every day and have the physical ability and confidence to do them.

“In particular, we all know how vital regular trips out are to well-being and I’m delighted that this summer we have trips running daily across the UK to venues as diverse as safari parks, art galleries, castles, aquariums and even distilleries.

Let’s leave crocheting to the hipsters and focus on what people most want to be doing.”

Laura Marston, activity coordinator at Berehill House care home in Basingstoke says residents “Don’t necessarily want to sit and crochet a tea cosy.”

“A lot of my residents enjoy drinking gin and we run cocktail classes and make gin ice lollies in the home.”

Speaking about the transformative effect of continuing to pursue lifelong passions Lesley Wheal, Activity Co-ordinator at Wickmeads Care Home in Bournemouth explains:

“One of our residents loves to play the mouth organ but until now has not played a complete tune. There was a really special moment for him during a visit from the Rock Choir.

He started to play in front of them, and 30 sang along with him.

His wife was so proud and at the end he received a standing ovation from everyone in the room.

It was a really empowering moment for him and since that day it has given his self-esteem a real boost.”